Privacy Policy - AI Usage Study Tracker Last updated: July 28, 2026 AI Usage Study Tracker is a browser extension designed for enrolled participants in an academic research study about AI tool usage. We respect participant privacy and provide this Privacy Policy to explain what data the extension collects, how it is used, and how it is protected. 1. Single Purpose The single purpose of AI Usage Study Tracker is to record study-related visits and interaction events on supported AI websites from enrolled participants who have consented to join an academic AI usage research study. 2. Data We Collect With participant consent, the extension may collect and transmit study-related data, including: - Participant registration information, such as a study participant identifier, study ID, consent version, group ID, extension installation ID, extension version, and installation timestamp. - Page visit information on supported AI websites, such as URL, page title, timestamp, event type, and event source. - AI website visit events, including when a supported AI website is opened or closed, the site name, visit start time, end time, and duration. - ChatGPT interaction events, including conversation message text visible on the page, message role, message ID, turn index, timestamps, copy and paste event occurrence, and related page URL and title. - ChatGPT memory setting status detected from the page interface, such as whether memory-related settings appear enabled or disabled. - Extension interaction events, such as registration, popup display, popup acknowledgement, popup dismissal, study completion notice display, upload status, and heartbeat events. - Locally cached configuration, authentication state, queued study events, popup display state, and active visit state required for extension operation. The extension records copy and paste event occurrence, but it does not directly read clipboard contents through a clipboard permission. However, if pasted text becomes part of a supported AI conversation visible on the page, that conversation text may be collected as study data. 3. Supported Websites and Host Permissions The extension uses host permissions only for the study server and supported AI websites. These may include: - The study server used for registration, configuration, heartbeat, and study event upload. - ChatGPT and OpenAI pages where the study content script runs. - Other supported AI services configured for visit tracking, such as Claude, Gemini, Grok, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity. The extension does not run on unrelated websites unless those websites are added as supported study websites in the extension manifest. 4. How We Use Data Collected data is used only for academic research purposes, including: - Registering study participants. - Measuring study-related AI tool usage patterns. - Understanding usage events on supported AI websites. - Delivering study reminders or completion notices. - Maintaining extension reliability, configuration, and event upload. - Analyzing research outcomes in accordance with the study consent process. We do not use collected data for advertising, credit decisions, user profiling for commercial purposes, or sale to third parties. 5. Data Sharing We do not sell, rent, or trade participant data. Study data may be accessed by authorized members of the research team or service providers operating the study infrastructure, only as necessary to run the research study, maintain the system, analyze study results, or comply with applicable legal or institutional requirements. 6. Data Storage and Transmission The extension stores some data locally in the browser, including registration state, study configuration, queued events waiting to be uploaded, popup display state, and active visit state. The extension transmits study data to the study server over HTTPS. If the server is temporarily unavailable, study events may be stored locally and uploaded later. Uninstalling the extension removes locally stored extension data from the browser. Data that has already been transmitted to the study server may remain in the research records according to the study's retention policy. 7. Permissions Used The extension may request the following permissions: - storage: used to store registration state, configuration, queued study events, and popup state locally. - alarms: used to periodically upload queued events, refresh configuration, send heartbeat events, and check study completion notices. - tabs and activeTab: used to detect relevant tab URLs, page titles, and supported AI website visits, and to open study-related links when participants click them. - webNavigation: used to detect navigation events on supported AI websites for visit tracking. - scripting and content scripts: used to run study tracking code on supported AI pages declared in the manifest. - host permissions: used only for the study server and supported AI websites required for the research study. Optional permissions, if present, are not used unless they are specifically requested and enabled for a study feature. 8. User Consent and Control This extension is intended only for enrolled study participants. Participants should install and use the extension only after reviewing the study consent information. Participants may stop using the extension at any time by disabling or uninstalling it from the browser. Participants may also contact the research team to ask questions about study data, data retention, or withdrawal procedures. 9. Children's Privacy This extension is not intended for children or for users who are not eligible to participate in the research study. 10. Changes to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy if the extension's data practices or study requirements change. The updated policy will include a new "Last updated" date. 11. Contact If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or the study data collected by AI Usage Study Tracker, please contact: Email: support@pomodoro-timer.com